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JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 28, 1866. 



leaves become of a beautiful bright scarlet every autumn before 

 they fall off, and in Australia are sometimes used for colouring 

 white wines. The second variety is the White Muscadine or 

 White Grape from Tenerifie. This is at no time a high-fla- 

 voured Grape. It ripens very early in England out of doors, 

 and may be said to do the same here. It is in consequence of 

 its hardiness, productiveness, and certainty of a crop, more 

 grown than any other Grape. — W. Swale. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



The clearance of all crops as soon as they are exhausted, 

 and the destruction of weeds, conduce not only to improve the 

 appearance of a garden, but are actually, with reference to the 

 soil, a work of economical importance. In regard to prescribed 

 periods of sowing, it is advisable to study both the soil and 

 locality of a garden, that its advantages and inconveniences 

 may be understood. There are localities where it is necessary 

 to deviate considerably from ordinary practice to meet their pecu- 

 liarities. Cabbage, it is a gooB time to sow for spring use, also 

 the Deptford Onion and Cauliflower. Endive, the late planting 

 must be made forthwith ; this planting will be eligible to move 

 with balls of earth into frames in November, the soil must be 

 very rich. Green Kale, let a good breadth of this and Cole- 

 worts be got out on well-prepared ground, also the residue of 

 the stock of Brussels Sprouts and Savoys may be usefully 

 employed to fill up vacancies. Lettuce, a rich border should 

 now be make ready, and planted with Bath or Brown Cos, these 

 will furnish a supply in the open ground until Christmas, pro- 

 vided they are protected. This is also an excellent time to 

 make a sowing of the Brown or Bath Cos and Hammersmith, 

 to remain where sown through the winter. The beds should bo 

 elevated considerably, the higher the better, and the seed 

 scattered broadcast rather thinly. Tomatoes, if they are over- 

 luxuriant, cut away a portion of the roots. Turnips, the sowing 

 must not bo neglected. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



The preservation of wall fruit from birds and insects should 

 occupy attention. The beanstalk earwig-traps should be fre- 

 quently examined. Worsted or other small-mesh netting may 

 be employed with advantage to protect Green Gage or other 

 Plums, the scarcity of which fruit this season invites such pre- 

 cautions. Look carefully over Peach and Nectarine trees, and 

 remove nails that are too close to the swelling fruit. In stopping 

 and arranging the wood lei only as much as can conveniently be 

 laid in be allowed to remain, and let that convenience be quali- 

 fied by due consideration for the perfection of the fruit and the 

 proper ripening of the wood, which only the influences of sun 

 and air can accomplish. It is also an error in another respect 

 to retain a large amount of wood, to be removed inevitably in 

 the winter pruning; an undue excitement and extension is 

 given to the roots, which, by a superabundant supply of sap, 

 induce in the spring the growth of rank and unmanageable 

 wood. The only effectual method of curing a gross habit of 

 growth is root-pruning, or keeping the roots within proper 

 limits by means of shallow, well-drained borders. Should it 

 be found that the shoots after stopping incline to start into 

 growth, it will bo advisable as soon as the fruit is gathered to 

 open a trench at a moderate distance from the stem of the 

 tree, cutting the stronger roots. This will be of the greatest 

 service in checking growth, and will probably do more towards 

 seeming ripe wood than anything else that could be adopted. 

 •Get Strawberry plantations intended to stand for next season 

 trimmed as soon as convenient, cutting off and clearing away 

 the runners, so as to afford the leaves plenty of room. Look 

 •carefully over varieties of Pears ripening, and gather those 

 that are fit, for if allowed to hang after they are ripe birds are 

 sure to find and attack the fruit before it is fit for gather- 

 ing, so that the crop will probably be spoiled unless it can be 

 netted up. Where Currant trees are covered with mats, which, 

 by-the by, are very inferior to close nets for this purpose and 

 much more expensive, the trees should be uncovered occasion- 

 ally on fine, dry days, so as to expose the fruit thoroughly to 

 the air in order to prevent its being injured by damp, to. 



FLOWER GABDEH. 



Mowing will not be so frequently required as heretofore, 

 once a-fortnight ur three weeks will be sufficient. Sweeping 

 will now be in greater requisition, as the sere and yellow leaf 

 as beginning to fall from the trees and shrubs ; the lawn and 

 walks should be gone over every morning. The roller, too, 



should not be forgotten. Attend to the destruction of weeds, 

 by hoeing and hand-picking. Tie up climbers, dress the edges 

 of beds by pegging and tying ; if encircled with basket-work, pay 

 the greater attention to order and good keeping. The propa- 

 gation of stock for next year's decoration must be actively pro- 

 ceeded with. Large evergreens intended for autumn removal 

 should now be prepared for the purpose. A trench should be 

 dug round the tree nearly to the depth of the lowest roots ; 

 the advantages attending an early preparation of this kind are 

 manifest. Decay of some of the earlier flowers will now 

 begin to leave blanks, which will not be easily filled up unless 

 a stock of large plants in pots has been provided. In mixed 

 beds some of the late kinds of Phloxes, Asters, &c., may oc- 

 casionally be untied and made to occupy three or more sticks 

 in order to fill the blanks. Petunias and other plants of gross 

 habit should have a pruning betimes to keep them within 

 bounds. A few Crocuses, Snowdrops, to., may be planted 

 soon to obtain an early bloom. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



The usual quantity for a season's supply of the kinds of soil 

 used in potting should be laid in as soon as convenient, and 

 before the ground is sodden with the autumn rains, for even 

 turfy soil should not be carted and stacked-up when saturated 

 with water. The soil should be neatly put up in narrow ridges, 

 so as to be safe from wet, and exposed as much as possible to 

 the action of the air; and as success in plant-growing very 

 much depends upon having suitable soil for potting, no trouble 

 or expense that may be necessary to procure this should be 

 spared where well-grown specimens are expected. Loam of 

 moderately good quality may be obtained in most neighbour- 

 hoods ; but good peat is not to be had in many localities. This 

 is absolutely necessary, however, for the growth of choice hard- 

 wooded plants, and should be procured at the proper season, 

 bo as to have it in a fit state for use when wanted. Stove 

 plants flowering in the conservatory will require attention to 

 prevent their being injured by damp, especially Achimenes 

 and Clerodendrons, which should be gone over every day in 

 cloudy weather, carefully picking off decayed flowers, &c. 

 Camellias may be grafted : the operation may be performed 

 with the greatest success by pursuing the French method, 

 which is merely inserting that portion of wood which includes a 

 bud and leaf, cut longitudinally, into a corresponding cleft in 

 the stock. The grafted subjects should be plunged in bottom 

 heat, and kept covered with hand-glasses for at least a month. 

 The tender Rhododendrons may be increased in the same way. 

 Pelargoniums which have been cut down and have commenced 

 to grow, may be shaken out of their pots and repotted in others 

 of smaller size. Give attention to the Chinese Primulas, and 

 sow Mignonette for blooming late in the season. Shift Chry- 

 santhemums, and regularly attend to stopping and watering, a 

 little manure water will be found useful. Prick out and pot 

 seedling Cinerarias for early blooming. 



STOVE. 



Continue former directions in this house as to heat and 

 moisture ; and by giving plenty of air endeavour to get your 

 Ixoras and similar plants to make strong luxuriant shoots, 

 which, if properly ripened, are sure to produce fine heads of 

 bloom. Successions of Brugmansias, Clerodendrons, Euphor- 

 bias, Poinsettias, &c, should receive a last shift, in order that 

 they may produce a rich display in the conservatory. A batch 

 of such plants as Thunbergias, Ipomceas, Jasmines, Stepha- 

 notis, Passifloras, &c, should be trained up ornamental trel- 

 lises without delay. 



COLD PITS. 



Young stock intended to flower next season should be ex- 

 posed to the midday sun in order to ripen the wood, taking 

 care not to do this so rashly as to injure the foliage. This, 

 however, will only be proper in the case of such things as have 

 already made plenty of young wood ; but it is advisable after 

 this season to be anticipating the approach of winter, and to 

 use every possible means to forward the growth of valuable 

 hardwooded plants, in order to have it somewhat firm and able 

 to resist damp, to., as soon as possible, and this is especially 

 necessary where the plants have to be wintered in these struc- 

 tures. — W. Kease. 



DOINGS OF THE LAST WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



Celery. — Earthed up a piece of the earliest to be fit for use 

 in a fortnight or three weeks. The general crops though 

 healthy and of a dark green after the slight dusting with soot, 



